UN Security Council calls for ceasefire in Blue Nile, South Kordofan

The United Nations Security Council has called for a cessation of hostilities in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states of Sudan, following talks this week between the SPLM-N rebel group and the Sudanese government.

Ambassador Matthew Rycroft for the United Kingdom, which currently holds the Council's rotating presidency, told press yesterday that the Council received a briefing from UN envoy Haile Menkerios in Addis Ababa.

He expressed the Council's support for the work of former South African President Thabo Mbeki, who heads the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) mediating talks on Sudan's Two Areas.

“We welcomed the discussion between the parties in Addis, but are disappointed that those have concluded without agreement, in particular without agreement on a cessation of hostilities,” said the ambassador.

Rycroft added, “We urged the parties to avoid further acts of violence. We urged them to agree a cessation of hostilities, to return to talks in the very near future and to allow the facilitation of humanitarian assistance.”

“We also urged the parties to agree a way forward, for an inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue.”

(Source: Radio Tamazuj)